Recalls: BMW E60 M5 Sedan
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the number of recalls should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: BMW E60 M5 Sedan
BMW E60 M5 Sedan: intermittent failure of front seat occupancy detectors
In February 2005, a recall was issued for BMW E60 M5 Sedan vehicles because the seat occupancy detectors may intermittently be unable to reliably detect that the front seat is occupied. As a result, the front passenger’s front and side airbags and seatbelt pretensioners may not activate when required (PRA 2005/7574).
2006 BMW E60 M5 Sedan: loss of wheel guidance
In July 2006, a recall was issued for BMW E60 M5 Sedans manufactured from 9 January 2006 to 26 April 2006. In these vehicles, the lower rubber mounts could come loose from the rear shock absorbers – if this occurred, wheel guidance would be lost and, depending on the driving situation, it may not be possible to control the vehicle safely (PRA 2006/8620).
2005-10 BMW E60 M5: fire in luggage compartment
In March 2012, a recall was issued for BMW E60 5-Series sedans that were available for sale from 1 March 2003 to 31 July 2010. In these vehicles, the battery cover may not have been correctly clipped to the floor panel due to an assembly error – this could cause loosening and possible overheating of the positive terminal cable connection which could, in turn, result in a fire in the luggage compartment even if the engine was not running (PRA 2012/13082).
Problems and faults: BMW E60 M5 Sedan
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
BMW E60 M5 and S85 engine: connecting rod bearing wear
The connecting rod bearing clearance to journal ratio for S85 engines produced from 2007 to October 2008 (with 088/089 bearings) is less than is generally recommended by engine builders. This lack of clearance causes inadequate oil lubrication between the crank journal and the connecting rod bearings, resulting in premature wear of the rod bearings. For the 702/703 bearings that were subsequently introduced, bearing eccentricity was increased for greater clearance. After initially specifying 10W60 engine oil, BMW permitted the use of thinner LL-01 approved 0W40, 5W30 and 5W40 oils.
For a detailed discussion of the connecting rod bearing clearance design attribute as it pertains to the related S65 engine, please see http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892838.
BMW E60 M5 and S85B50 engine: throttle body actuator failure
For the S85B50 engine, there are two throttle body actuators (part no. 13627838085, one per cylinder bank) that are susceptible to failure. Failure of the throttle body actuator causes the vehicle to enter ‘limp home’ mode and may issue code 2B21 (among others). Throttle body actuator failures have been reported from 50,000 kilometres.
The gears within the actuators are made from plastic and wear over time, causing uneven mesh and increased resistance to motion. As a result, the control board applies additional current to the motor to overcome the resistance. The circuit control board, however, does not have over-current protection so that the driver MOSFETs fail due to source-to-drain shoot-through; this may also cause the gate lead to fail. This, in turn, damages the gate driver circuitry and renders the circuit board inoperable. Since some MOSFET failures do not take out the gate driver, replacing the MOSFETs alone may repair the circuit board.
It is understood that aftermarket suppliers are producing brass gears to retrofit to the actuators.
BMW E60 M5: SMG electric motor failure
In June 2007, BMW issued a technical service bulletin SI B23 01 07 for the E60 M5 which were manufactured from 25 January 2005 to 23 January 2006 and had chassis numbers in the range B581047 to B582710.
According to the service bulletin, the carbon brushes of the electric motor for the SMG hydraulic system may wear prematurely – this could cause a failure of the motor, resulting in insufficient hydraulic system pressure. The SMG control unit would record fault codes related to low hydraulic pressure (such as 4F42, 4F43 and 4F40) and a transmission warning would be displayed in the Check Control. Furthermore, gears may not be selected or changed and, if the SMG was stuck in any gear, the engine could not be restarted.
For affected vehicles, the electric motor of the SMG hydraulic pump had to be replaced.
BMW E60 M5: active steering sensor failure
In September 2006, BMW issued technical service bulletin SI B34 05 06 for BMW E60 M5 vehicles that were manufactured from 26 August 2005 to 28 July 2006. In these vehicles, the optical sensor in the SZL (Steering Column Switch Sensor) may fail. According to the service bulletin, a defective optical steering angle sensor could cause failure of:
- Active Steering;
- Dynamic Stability Control (DSC);
- Active Roll Stabilization (ARS);
- Adaptive Headlights (AHL);
- Active Cruise Control (ACC); and,
- The automatic turn signal reset function.
Please note that one or more systems may fail depending on the degree of damage to the optical steering angle sensor. Furthermore, the failure of DSC, ARS and Active Steering would be indicated by indicator lamps and display messages. To fix, the optical sensor in the SZL was to be replaced.
BMW E60 M5: rear differential grinding noise
In January 2009, BMW issued technical service bulletin SI B33 01 02 for E60 M5 Sedans. In these vehicles, a grinding noise may be heard from the rear differential during slow cornering; the noise was most prevalent during turning manoeuvres with a high degree of lock such as parallel parking or tight circles.
When cornering, a ‘slip stick’ effect was created on the lining and steel discs incorporated in the differential locking clutch, thereby causing the grinding noise. The noise typically dissipated as the locking clutch discs in the differential were ‘broken in’. The break-in time, however, varied according to driving habits.
For the E46 M3, E90/E92/E93 M3, E60 M5 and E63/E64 M6, a specially formulated differential oil (part number 83 22 2 282 583) was recommended.
2007-09 BMW E60 M5: tail light failure
In September 2013, BMW of North America issued a recall for BMW E60 M5 vehicles that were manufactured from 1 March 2007 to 31 December 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the tail-light electrical contact points could cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector – this would result in intermittent or permanent loss of one or more rear lamp functions (i.e. tail, brake, turn-signal and reverse). As part of the recall, the rear lamp bulb carriers were to be replaced free of charge. Despite this recall being issued by BMW of North America, no equivalent recall has been issued in Australia.
Problems and faults: BMW E60 M5 Sedan
- If there is a rattling noise from the front of the engine and the ‘check engine’ light illuminates, there may be a leak in an oil line for the variable valve timing system.
- The ‘electronic steering lock’ warning light may illuminate and/or the vehicle will not start if the battery was low when starting.
- The universal garage door opener may not accept a code from a different source (new transmitter or new owner) if the batteries in the transmitter are low.
- For models with steering wheel gearshift paddles, the paddles may stop working due to loose connectors terminating the electrical circuit.
- Vibrating speedometer and/or tachometer needles at idle require reprogramming.
- The pivot for the boot hydraulic lift cylinder may become loose and/or its threads may rust, requiring the cylinder to be reinstalled with sealant or the pivot to be replaced.
- The ‘flat tyre’ warning light may illuminate if the sensor is not reset after a tyre is replaced.
